MuA, Sleeping Beauty, PiggyBac, and Tn5 are leading transposon systems with diverse applications for genome engineering. MuA offers broad host compatibility and ready-to-use complexes for random integration in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells. Sleeping Beauty is ideal for vertebrate gene therapy, PiggyBac for large cargo delivery and stem cell work, and Tn5 for bacterial mutagenesis and NGS library preparation.
Compare Transposon Systems: MuA, Sleeping Beauty, PiggyBac, and Tn5
Overview of Transposon-Based Genome Engineering
Transposon-based systems are widely used in genomics, functional studies, and synthetic biology. Popular tools include Sleeping Beauty, PiggyBac, Tn5, and MuA. Each offers distinct host ranges, integration patterns, and use cases.
Our MuA transposase system provides a complementary and highly versatile solution, supporting random integration in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells. Delivered as pre-assembled, ready-to-use complexes with selectable markers and optional fluorescent reporters, MuA simplifies workflows for mutagenesis, functional genomics, and stable cell line engineering across multiple hosts.
This guide compares four transposon systems—helping you choose the right solution for your research.
Quick Comparison of Transposon Systems
| System | Host Range | Key Features | Typical Applications | Commercial Availability of Ready-to-Use Complexes | Control Over Number of Insertions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MuA transposase (our kits) | Bacteria (e.g., E. coli), yeast, and mammalian cells | Random genomic integration; broad host applicability; selectable markers (antibiotic resistance, fluorescent reporters); minimal sequence bias | Random mutagenesis (bacteria, yeast, mammalian); functional genomics; stable reporter integration; cell line engineering | ✅ Yes — available as pre-assembled, ready-to-use complexes (our kits) | Tunable by complex dose |
| Sleeping Beauty | Vertebrates | TA dinucleotide targeting; hyperactive variants available (e.g., SB100X); close to random integration | Stable gene transfer; functional studies; gene therapy research | ❌ No — Typically delivered as plasmid DNA | Somewhat tunable via transposase/transposon ratio & delivery method |
| PiggyBac | Insect, yeast, plants, and mammalian | TTAA site preference; large cargo capacity; precise excision possible | Stable gene delivery; iPSC engineering; functional genomics | ❌ No — Typically delivered as plasmid DNA | Somewhat tunable via transposase/transposon ratio & delivery method |
| Tn5 | Bacterial | Widely used in tagmentation workflows; hyperactive variants available | NGS library prep (tagmentation); bacterial mutagenesis; in vitro genome engineering | ✅ Yes — available as ready-to-use transposomes (especially for NGS) | Tunable by complex dose |
Notes: “Ready-to-use complexes” refers to pre-assembled transposase–transposon complexes deliverable directly into cells.
Why Choose MuA Transposase?
-
Broad Host Range: Works in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells.
-
Simplified Workflows: Delivered as ready-to-use transposase–transposon complexes.
-
Customizable Selection: Choose from antibiotic resistance markers or fluorescent reporters.
-
Efficient Mutagenesis: Achieve random, unbiased genomic integration for functional screens and stable cell line development.
When to Use Sleeping Beauty, PiggyBac, or Tn5
-
Sleeping Beauty: Best for vertebrate models and gene therapy research where TA-targeted insertions are acceptable.
-
PiggyBac: Ideal for large cargo insertion projects and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) engineering.
-
Tn5: Commonly used for NGS library preparation and bacterial genome engineering, with commercial availability in transposome form.